Red Flag Warning Extended As Heat, Winds and Dryness Persist

A "red flag" wildfire warning was in effect today in San Diego-area valleys and mountains for a fourth consecutive day due to lingering heat, high winds and dry air.

The National Weather Service alert, set to expire at 6 p.m. Friday, advises the public to be mindful of "critical" combustion hazards in the subject areas.

The warning, issued Monday and initially set to expire on Wednesday evening, has been extended twice.

The forecast called for sustained winds up to 30 mph out of the northeast and gusts up to 60 mph, coupled with daytime humidity levels as low as 5 percent.

The arid, unseasonably warm conditions were expected to persist into the weekend, coupled with weakening winds, forecasters said. The weather is helping spur the Colby fire in the Angeles National Forest which has burned 1,700 acres.

Several have been injured and at least two homes have been destroyed. Fire fighters ask people to be careful with incendiary devices or lit items such as cigarettes butts that can ignite dry brush.

Do not drive your vehicles into tall grass as hot components under vehicles can also ignite a brush fire, officials advised.

-- City News Service